A concerning incident involving local aviation enthusiasts has sparked discussion within Sri Lanka’s aviation community after two plane spotters were reportedly detained and questioned by police for photographing aircraft from a public area near Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA).
According to details shared by aviation enthusiast Malin Jayasuriya, he and fellow plane spotter had visited the 18th Mile Post Davendra Mendis Public Ground around 6.00 a.m. to capture the departure of the Dassault Rafale fighter jets that arrived in Sri Lanka. Shortly after taking photographs, officers from the Katunayake Police reportedly arrived following a complaint made through the 119 emergency hotline.
The two individuals were taken to a police station, where cameras were confiscated and statements recorded. They reportedly spent nearly five hours explaining that they were aviation photographers and plane spotters engaged in a globally recognized hobby, not involved in any suspicious activity.
The incident has triggered disappointment and frustration among members of Sri Lanka’s aviation photography community, many of whom say plane spotting is widely accepted around the world and plays a positive role in promoting aviation and tourism internationally.
Plane spotting is a long-established hobby practiced globally by thousands of aviation enthusiasts who photograph and document aircraft movements. Airports such as BIA regularly attract attention from international aviation followers, while airlines including SriLankan Airlines often benefit from the global exposure created through enthusiast photography and social media sharing.
Many aviation-related platforms and media outlets in Sri Lanka have also noted that they frequently receive requests from international aviation followers for aircraft photographs and spotting-related content from Colombo.
Members of the aviation community describe this latest incident as unfortunate and unnecessary, especially considering the photographers were reportedly positioned at a public location. Concerns have also been raised over the apparent lack of awareness regarding aviation photography among some authorities.
Several enthusiasts are now urging relevant authorities, including the police and aviation regulators, to introduce clearer guidelines and awareness programmes regarding plane spotting in Sri Lanka. They argue that educating local police stations and security personnel about the hobby could help prevent similar incidents in the future while maintaining necessary national security measures.
The incident has also reignited wider discussions about balancing aviation security with public enthusiasm for aviation culture, photography and tourism promotion in Sri Lanka.
For many local spotters, aviation photography is more than a hobby, it is a passion that helps showcase Sri Lanka’s aviation industry to the world in a positive light.
Editor’s Note:
Malin Jayasuriya is a well-known and respected figure within Sri Lanka’s aviation community. Beyond his professional career, plane spotting and aviation photography have been a passion he has pursued for years entirely at his own expense, without financial gain or sponsorship. Individuals like him help showcase Sri Lankan aviation to the global community through positive exposure and genuine enthusiasm. For any country, passionate aviation enthusiasts and photographers are assets, not threats.
